Monday, February 6, 2012

"Troop Levels To Be Determined by..."

02/05/2012

"Troop Levels To Be Determined by..."

... "conditions on the ground," "in consultation with the Ground Commanders."

"the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009

These are things we have heard from the President, the Secretary of Defense, and other Administration officials. I am not the first to have pointed out that the very opposite occurred, that the decision was made to cut Troop levels in Afghanistan before the first Soldier in "The Surge" received his orders to go. Nor am I the first to point out that this is the wrong time, i.e. in the middle of war, to cut the number of Troops available to fight these wars.

"..a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world's great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al Qaeda's base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban - a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009

Candidate Obama campaigned on making Afghanistan, the just war, his top priority. General McKiernan told him he needed more Troops, but was fired for telling the truth, i.e. that Our Troops had not wantonly or negligently, attacked and killed hundreds of civilians. General McChrystal told the POTUS he needed more Troops, and found himself on the outs with the Administration for trying to convince the POTUS to send them. He was fired for airing his frustration, in a private conversation, publicized by Rolling Stone, fired for telling the truth that the POTUS wasn't just, not listening, but not even giving him the time of day. ...

We are living in very strange and dangerous times, and even as America continues on in the never-ending election campaigning of the current resident of the White House, it is vital that we all stay informed, and pay attention. Go read the rest of this here.